When my husband and I were dating, we couldn’t wait to spend more time together. We’d find any excuse possible to go on a date almost every night of the week — even if it was just going for a long walk by the railroad tracks (one of our favorite date night activities). We just loved getting to know each other better.

After we got married, we no longer had to find an excuse to see each other; we saw each other every day. But we still had fun going out and trying new things as a couple. For a while, we did weekly bowling nights, which was a lot of fun.

But then we entered parenthood. With two young, active girls, I actually can’t tell you the last time my husband and I went on a date. We still love spending time together and wish we could go on more dates, but with our busy schedules, it just doesn’t work as often as we’d like.

While scheduling date nights have become harder during this stage in our life, we still definitely believe in the importance of date nights in a marriage. We even set a date night budget every month in the hopes that we’ll find time to use it.

Why you need a date night budget

According to a 2016 study by the Marriage Foundation, couples who do date night at least monthly are 14% less likely to break up than those who go rarely. So, regardless of what you have going on, date night deserves a spot in your busy schedules.

Date night doesn’t have to be anything fancy. They can be as simple as going out for dessert, going for a walk in the park as you hold hands, or watching a movie together. The important part is that you’re together and enjoying one-on-one time to connect emotionally and forget about the stress of life.

What is a good date night budget amount?

There’s no right answer here. Set your date night budget within your budget. We set our budget at $100 per month. Some months we spend close to that amount and some months we barely spend one-third of it. This number might seem high or low to you, so go ahead and decide what amount feels best for you. The important thing is to create a date night category in your budget.

And if you don’t have the money in the budget, find it. There are definitely free date ideas you can use, but it can be nice to spend a little, too. Set aside some money each month to invest in your relationship.

Some fun date night ideas that won’t break the bank

It’s not always easy to come up with ideas for cheap date nights. A few activities we love include:

My husband and I on one of our many hikes together.

Hiking in the mountains

Trying new restaurants

Making dessert at home

Reading a book out loud with each other

Here are some other ideas:

Make homemade pizza together

Have a one-on-one game night

Hit up a thrift store with a $10 budget

Stargaze

Check out a local museum

Take a drive

Do a movie or TV-show marathon

Play 20 questions

Excercise together

Write down a joint bucket list

Go to a nickel arcade

Try a new recipe

If you’re worried about paying for a babysitter each time, ask another couple in your ward if you can do a babysitting swap. You can watch their kids one night when they go on a date and then they can do the same for you. It’s a great, free option.

An alternative is to find a young woman or man in the ward who you trust and can watch your children at a reasonable rate.

Date nights are important for your marriage. They help rekindle that spark that attracted you to your spouse in the first place. So, make your relationship a priority and create a date night budget today.

Do you have a date night budget? What are some fun inexpensive date night ideas you’ve enjoyed?

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Hello and welcome! I'm Ben and I run Latter-day Finance. I've been eating, sleeping, and breathing personal finance ever since I first picked up Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover in 2009. I believe that managing money well is essential to a fulfilling life. Learn more about me here.

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Latter-day Finance is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The opinions in this blog represent the opinion of the author and are not meant to represent the teachings or doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nor are the opinions endorsed or recommended by the LDS Church.

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The posts on this blog are based on my opinions and personal experiences. Do your own research and consider consulting a financial advisor before making financial decisions. There may be paid advertisements on this website. You are under no obligation to purchase the products or services advertised on this website.